My having to let contractors into the castle at least meant I got to see a Hummingbird Hawk Moth which was studying a “No Smoking Sign”!
Upon the coast path I turned over a Bloody-nose Beetle which had lain on its back and appeared to be dusted in pollen. Another two such beetles also put in appearances on the coast path. I noted the scorched tips of Sallow, Elder and Honeysuckle leaves presumably “wind burnt” on the exposed cliff top. I did not very small caterpillars amongst web upon Blackthorn. I feared this may be more juvenile Brown Tailed Moths to be monitored.
Below Durlston Head upon a partly submerged rock sat a solo Shag. A Great Black Back Gull sat “hunkered down” on the edge of the Tilly Whim wave cut platform. Herring Gulls dotted the cliff face. The morning’s different coastal visitor was a Grey Heron which called as it passed the Lighthouse heading west.
Three stems of Sea Aster protruded from Tilly Whim steps retaining wall displaying pink purple petals with yellow stamen. Meanwhile, a few Golden Samphire showed yellow flowers and succulent leaves at the gully mouth steps.
The upper mile marker tip was occupied by two Jackdaws whilst on Carrion Crow perched on the ladder ring of the lowest marker. Adjacent in the gully mouth were a further two Carrion Crows one being and adventurous juvenile. The youngster scaled the steepest side of lower gully and I heard it crack seeds open with its beak!
Despite the cloud some half dozen Meadow Browns were seen on the wing and a further trio of Gatekeepers. The yellow breast helped me to identify the Wood Warbler in the gully which briefly perched on a berry laden Elder.
A very striped abdomen Bumble Bee visited a Dwarf Thistle flower. I admired the pine needle like whorls of leaves on roadside Bastard Toadflax as a Swallow flew past skimming the landscape.
A Pied Fly Catcher was reported amongst the Stour Valley Ringing Group’s captures.